Contents Search publications                                         Previous  Next

Much less work has been done on occupational, as opposed to hereditary or lifestyle, factors associated with heart disease. However, because heart disease is the largest cause of death among both men and women in the UK, even a small reduction in risk due to occupational exposure could involve large numbers of people, and be an important public health measure. There is good evidence that occupational exposure to certain materials, such as the solvent carbon disulphide, is linked with heart disease.

Explosives manufacturing workers exposed to nitroglycerin and ethylene glycol dinitrate can suffer from angina when away from work, because these chemicals (like those used to treat angina) cause the heart's blood vessels to expand. Acute exposure to some solvents has also been associated with sudden death, probably due to changes in the heart's rhythm.

Contents Search publications                                         Previous  Next